He accepted responsibility for causing the death of Norman Illingworth, but denied intending to kill or seriously harm him or having any grudge against him.

He told Teesside Crown Court it was “absolutely horrible” being interviewed by the police on suspicion of murder.

“A friend of mine’s dead and I’m covered in blood thinking I can’t remember a thing, thinking is it me that’s killed him? It was horrible for me,” he said.

Muldoon denies murdering Mr Illingworth, 57, and assaulting Andrew Hulse, 38, in Mr Illingworth’s home on Essex Street in the early hours of February 18 this year.

He maintains he was not responsible for his actions and did not have the intent as his drink was spiked with a drug. He admitted he used amphetamines “continuously” since he was 15 but said it didn’t make him aggressive.

He said there was no ill feeling with the two men at Mr Illingworth’s home, near his own on Surrey Street, as he made several visits on February 17. He denied being aggressive and said the suggestion he threatened to kill Mr Illingworth was an “absolute lie”.

He said he took speed and drank less than a pint of cider, three shots of vodka at about 2pm then three more shots at about 8.30pm.

He claimed he bought £10 worth of “whizz” for Mr Illingworth and Mr Hulse, then saw them snort it. This has been denied by Mr Hulse.

Muldoon said yesterday: “I spotted a drink on the side. I just thought it was a vodka and coke. I had a little mouthful and then I just downed the rest.” Minutes later at about 11pm, he said he collapsed.

The next thing he knew, he said, he was walking towards Mr Illingworth’s house: “I had visions that I was not dressed, I was naked.” A neighbour saw Muldoon naked and bloodied at 3 to 4am.

Muldoon said he could not remember speaking to people or his arrest. He admitted telling lies to police in interviews, including a claim of using self defence.

He didn’t mention the idea of a spiked drink until it occurred to him later in prison. At one point, he said, he thought someone else could have been responsible for the killing, but then accepted “the evidence all points to me”.

Prosecutor Toby Hedworth QC said to Muldoon: “You’ve just lied and lied and lied about all of this, haven’t you?” He said Muldoon spent his time in prison thinking of stories to fit the evidence. “I’m not that clever,” said Muldoon.